Caster



Oct. 18, 1927.

. A. H. TIEDEMANN CASTER Filed June 19, 1926 XNVENTOR Aflemy Fedemann BY Y (UM/um i l av Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

PATENT" OFFICE.

Aaron HENRYTIEDEMANN, or WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY.-

cAs'rEa.

Application filed June 19,

This invention relates to devices facilitating the movement of articles of furnlture, trunks, chests andothe'r' objects from place to place alon a' floor or like level surface, such devices eing commonly called casters.

In order that the wheel, or roll may freely revolve on its axis and automatically adjust itself in conformity with the direction in which the article is moved, the horizontal axis of the roll must necessarially be carried in a bracket which is pivoted to the base of the caster, the pivotal plane being offset more or less remotely from the axis of the roll.

This is a condition observable in all casters and compels the use of far larger, heavier, expensive and unsightly structures than if the weight of the article could be supported directly over the roll axis. 7 I

In order to facilitate ease of rotation of the roll carrying bracket about its vertical axis, when changingnthe direction of IIlOV8 ment of the article supported, several expedients have been tried, the most common being the interposition of a circular row of balls between the roll bracket and the stem carrying base.

It is clear however that only the balls directly over the roll are called upon to bear any part of the load, the others being idle but add to the complication and expense of the caster.

The object of the present invention is to provide a caster which will freely turn on its vertical axis as may be required and at the same time support its load directly over the axis of the roll.

A further feature is in the provision of a simple, strong and cheaply constructed caster, embodying good engineering practice,

compact and practical in operation.

These important improvements are accomplished by the novelconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing,

constituting a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevational, partial sectional view of an embodiment of the invention. the section being taken substantially on line 11 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a front View of the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modification in construction.

The device consists of a base including 1926. Serial N0. 117,015.

a disc 10 from which extends a vertical axial stem 11 which may be screw threaded or otherwise suited to engage one of the legs or supports of the article to which the caster is applied.

The lower face of the discis smoothand level except for an integral-hub 12 front which extends a cylindrical bearing 13 having a reduced terminal 14.

Rotatable on the bearing13 is a flat base 15, held in position by a washer 16 fitted to the terminal 14, which is rivetted or upsetto retain the parts in operative position.

A pair of substantially triangular fiat plates 17 reach down from the edges of the base 15 and mounted between these plates,

on a spindle 18, is a roll 19, preferably hav-' ing a convex face to contact with any level surface.

The central outer portion of the base 15 is thickened to produce a boss 20 having intermediate its length an opening 21 in which is engaged, on a pin 22, a small cylindrical roller 23, its periphery being in contact with the lower side of the disc 10.

It will now be seen that the roll carrying bracket is rotatable on the axis of the disc base, bringing the axis of the roll intermediate the hub 12 and roller 23, which is free to sweep around, in either direction, the

entire face of the disc and transmit the weight of the article to the roll 19.

In the modification shown in Figure 4 a circular plate 25, held by screws 26 to the furniture leg, is provided with a boss 27 threaded to receive a stem 28 formed on the upper face of a disc 29.

The disc has a bevelled lower face 30 and contains an annular groove 31. A bearing 32, reaching down from the center of the disc, is provided for a base plate 33, held by a washer 34 secured as previously described.

The bracket sides 35 carry between them a roll 36 mounted on a spindle 37 and a pin 38, set in the boss 39, carries a conical roller 40 in an opening in the boss to ride upon the bevelled face 30 of the caster base disc.

Theoretically, the operation of the conical roller is smoother, slipping being avoided and therefore wear of contacting parts, but

in practice no difficulty will be encountered in the device shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Although the foregoing is in accordance with the best known type of construction of the device it will be understood that the spirit and scope of the claim hereto apsecuring means, a second disc having a stem screw threaded into the hub of the first named disc to become solidly united therewith, a downwardly extending stepped stem to act as a bearing, a lower peripheral bevelled face and an annular recess interjacent thereto on said second disc, a bracket member rotatably mounted on the downwardly extending stem, means to confine the bracket thereon, a pair of downwardly extendin lugs on said bracket, a caster roll journalle between said lugs, a raised element on said bracket engaging the mentioned annular recess, and a conical roll journalled in an opening in said bracket to impinge on the bevelled face of said second disc, all of said elements being disposed below and within the radius of the first named disc.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 16 day of June, A. 1926. a

A. HENRY TIEDEMANN. 

